I just read this story on google news and nearly burst into tears!
Mute boy spoke for first time after getting puppy; silent again after thieves dognap pup
Wednesday, May 19th 2010, 9:55 AM
A 4-year-old mute boy who spoke for the first time after getting a pug puppy (not pictured) for his birthday went silent again after the puppy was stolen.
A 4-year-old mute boy who spoke for the first time after getting a dog for his birthday went silent again after the puppy was stolen.
Liam Hainsworth, of West Yorkshire, England, is heartbroken over the loss of his best friend, a pug named Milie.
"There's no words coming out but you just know he's screaming 'Where is Milie? Where is she?' inside," his worried mother, Aimee Hainsworth, 24, told London's Daily Mail.
"Milie really was his best friend. They would play together happily for hours. None of his toys has ever held his short attention span that long, so this was incredible. Now he has just completely gone back into his shell," she said.
Little Liam suffers from a learning disability called global development delay. But just two weeks after getting Milie, Liam spoke his first words: "dog" and "mummy," his mom said.
The dog was snatched from the Hainsworth's back yard last Monday.
His mother gave him a new dog, but he "pushes it away."
"Liam and Milie were inseparable and Liam is heartbroken now. He'll go over to Milie's cage and just beat on the bars," his mother said.
His grandfather, Thomas Hainsworth, bought Liam the dog. "Liam's eyes just lit up when he saw Milie. He was so happy. And the puppy was all giddy with the attention so it was lovely to see," he said.
"The companionship transformed him, and within two weeks he had said his first words and was working on [saying] 'dad.'"
"Just last week his teachers and I were saying how much Milie had helped him. Now this happens," he said.
Experts said pets can play a crucial role in helping children with learning disabilities.
"People will talk to a dog where they wouldn't talk to another human being," she added. "A dog is non-judgmental and doesn't care if words come out wrong," said Maureen Hennis of UK-based Pets As Therapy.
Local police officers are investigating.
sgaskell@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/05/19/2010-05-19_mute_boy_spoke_for_first_time_after_getting_puppy_silent_again_after_thieves_dog.html#ixzz0oP3idc9a
Can you imagine?? Oh this just breaks my heart.
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